Trap.



1. PATENTED APR. 21 1908. N0 W. B. EASON.

TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.11,190'I. 3 SVH E S SHEET 2 maxim/2345706022 armum I rm: mamas: PETERS 5a., WSHINGION, n. c.

WILLIAM B. EASON, OF FRA, ARKANSAS.

TRAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 21, 1908.

Application filed September 11, 1907. Serial No. 392,347.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM B. EAsoN, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Era,

in the county of Miller and State of Arkansas, have invented new anduseful Improvements in Traps, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to traps, the main object of the invention beingto provide a simple construction of trap which, while designed primarilyfor use in catching fish, may

also be employed on land for catching birds and animals, and which is soconstructed as to be readily collapsed for storage or transportation inclose compass.

Another object of the inventionis to provide a trap which is adapted torest directly upon the ground or bed of the stream or to be supported atan elevation above the same, and which is provided with improvedsupporting means for holding it in an elevated position, and withdetachable wing-frames acting as leaders to guide the fish thereto.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination andarrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a top planview of the trap as set up for use. Flg. 2 is a transverse sectionthereof on line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on line3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the trap. Fig. 5 isafragmentary bottom plan view showing the pivotal connections betweenthe trap sections. Fig. 6 isa detail view of one of the pivoted legs.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the body of the trap composed ofcomplemental sections 2 and 3, each preferably formed of a wire frameembodying terminal rings 4 and 5 and connecting longitudinal arms, 6,together with a covering of wire-or other suitable mesh material. Thesections are generally of frusto-conical form with their bases arrangedin apposition, the base of each section being, however, flattened toprovide a flat bottom for the body to permit the same to rest squarelyupon the ground or bed of the stream or be inserted under logs and otherobstructions.

The flattened base ortions of the body sections 2 and 3 are detachablyhinged or pivoted as at 3 in any preferred manner, so that the trap maybe opened or closed by swinging the sections on their pivotal con-.bail-shaped piece of wire connecte nection for the application of thebase and removal of the entrapped fish. Each section is provided with afunnel-shaped entrance 7 supported by and extending inwardly from theouter terminal frame-rings 5, and in order to holdthe trap sectionsclosed a latch device 8 is employed. This preferably com rises a at itsbight portion to one of the sections and formed at the free ends of itsarms with hooks 9 to pass through the meshes of the othersection andengage the frame-ring 4 thereof, whereby the sections will be heldsecurely closed. The catch is arranged preferably at the to of the trapand may be pivotally connecte by a tie to the u per longitudinal arms 6of the section to which it is applied. The inner frame-ring 4 of one ofthe sections carriesa bait holder, preferably in the form of a Wire 10attached at its extremities to the top and bottom portions thereof. Thiswire Lnay be provided with loops 11 to hold the ait.

In order to support the trap body in an elevated position, folding legs12 are provided upon the outer end of the sections 2 and 3. These legsare preferably formed of wire and of bail-form with the free ends of thearms thereof pivotally connected with the outer frame rings 5 and withthe central portions of their cross-pieces connecting the ower ends ofthe arms bent up centrally to provide cranks or loops 13 to which arepivotally connected the outer ends of wire braces 14. The legs areadapted to fold against the under side of the trap with the braces topermit the trap to seat squarely upon its bottom and may be extended toa vertical position as shown in Fig. 3 to hold the trap elevated. Whenso extended the braces 14 are brought to extend at an inward and upwardangle and are connected at their free ends with the trap body to staythe legs. The free ends of the braces may be hooked into the meshes ofthe body to hold the legs extended, but are preferably provided withhooks 15 to engage the flattened bottom portions of the framering 4.

Wing-frames 16 of oblong rectangular form are provided for use at theends of the tra to form'leaders or wings extending latera ly'in eachdirection from the outer end or mouth of each entrance-way to guide thefish toward the latter. The ends of these wingframes may extend straightoutward from the sides of the trap or be bent to lie at any suitableangle, as circumstances may require. These attachments are each formedof a three-sided frame consisting of a single length of wire '17 bentupwardly at right angles at its end and an oblong rectangular piece ofwoven wire of mesh material 18 secured at its lower edge to the body ofthe frame wire 17 and at its end edges to the up right end portions 19thereof. The central portion of the body of the wire 17 is bent upwardlyinto partially circular form to provide a spring-clamp 20 adapted toinclose and grip the reduced end of either trap section to detachablysecure the wing-frame thereto. This construction allows the wingframe tobe readily applied and removed, as will be readily understood.

It will be understood, of course, that when the legs and braces arefolded the trap body sections 2 and 3 may be swung open to asubstantially parallel position for storage or packing or disconnectedand packed one within the other, by inserting the reduced end of onewithin the large end of the other, in an obvious manner. The trap mayalso be used for catching small fish or minnows for use as live bait, ifdesired.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is 1. A trapcomprising a body formed of two hinged sections, each having an entranceat its outer end, a fastening for connecting the hinged ends of thesections, folding legs pivoted to the outer ends of the sections, andbraces for holding the same in extended position.

2. A trap comprising a'body formed of two sections pivotally connectedat their inner ends and having inwardly extending tapering entrances attheir outer ends, a latch device for holding the sections closed,pivoted legs at the outer ends of the sections, and braces forconnecting the extended legs with the closed body.

3. A trap comprising a body formed of two i hinged sections, saidsections being provided at their outer ends with entrances, a fasten ingfor holding the sections closed, legs pivotally mounted upon the ends ofthe sections to fold against the underside thereof, and braces pivotallyconnected with the legs and having hooked portions to engage the hingedends of the sections, whereby the legs may be held extended.

4. Atrap comprising a body composed. of two hinged sections, means forholding the sections closed, inwardly extending entrances at the outerends of the sections, and wings supported on the outer ends of thesections, said wings having clasps to detachably engage said sections.

5. A trap comprising a body having ontrances at its opposite ends, anddetachable wing-sections adapted to be applied to the ends of the body,each section having a frame formed of wire bent to provide a springclasp to partially surround and engage the end of the body.

6. A-trap comprising a trap body formed of two pivoted sections havingentrances at its opposite ends, means for holding the sections closed,pivoted legs at the ends of the body, and braces for staying theextended legs from the body.

In testimony whereof I afl'ix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WVILLIAM B. EASON.

Witnesses:

H. FINOHER EASON, I. N. THOMAS.

